Brick-drying apparatus.



N0. 732,978. PATENTED JULY '7, 1903. H. H.'WALSH.

BRICK DRYING APPARATUS. APPLIOA UfION FILED 1 3; 29 3903.

no norm.

Y F/g/ no. vsaers.

Patented July 7,.1903.

ATENT FFICE.

HIRAM I-I. wALsH, OF NEWBURGH, NEW YORK.

B RICK-DRYING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 732,978, dated July 7, 1903.

A pplication filed April 20, 1 903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM H. WALSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Newburgh, in the county of Orange and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brick-f Drying Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will onable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and usefel method or process for drying and heating purposes, but especially for dryingbrick, tile, lumber, &c., which will enable those engaged in the several trades to which it applies to utilize the heat from theboiler and the exhaust-steam from the engine in such a manner that the air in the drier or kiln will be thoroughly heated, and at the same time be pure and free from steam, smoke, or cinders, at a great saving both as to cost of plant and the running expenses thereof.

My invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein i the same parts are designated by the same letters throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the brickmachine, dump-table, and the arrangement of the boiler, engine, steam-jets, heatingchamber, part of the conduit through which the heated air is forced into the kiln or drier, part of the carrier in the drier, and also the blower by which the air is forced through the tubes in theheating-chamber into the conduit. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of thedrier and a transverse vertical secti n of the heating-chamber on line 0cm, showing the manner. in which the heat from the boiler is utilized to heat the tubes in the heating-chamber.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the heating-chamber on the line Y Y, the arrows showing the-course of the pure air forced by the blower through the heated tubes in the heating-chamber, where it is heated, into the conduit. Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a part of the carrier arranged in the drier.

- In the drawings, A is the boiler; A, the

smoke-box, which opens into the heatingchamber At The hot gases and smoke pass about the tubes A in the chamber A and Serial No. 153,388. (No model.)

out of the stack or chimney A", which is provided with a damper A B is a steam-pipe leading from the boiler A into the chamber A and is provided with a valve B near the boiler.

13 isa steam-pipe leading from the boiler A into the chamber D and is also provided with a valve B The exhaust-steam is conducted from the engine G into the chamber A through the pipe B The pipe 0 is arranged to pass through the chamber D and'under the chamber A and the header D and connect with the conduit E. In the chamber D the pipe 0 is arranged in the form of a T, the upper end of which is open. Above the horizontal portion of the pipe 0 is arranged a valve or damper C, which is adapted to open and close the upper end of the pipe 0, while the valve or damper C is arranged below the horizontal portion of the pipe 0 and is adapted to open or close that portion of the pipe 0 which connects with the conduit E. Atthe' outer end of the pipe 0 is arranged the blower F.

In the chamber A is arranged a bunch of parallel tubes A the ends of which open into the chamber D and the header D, respectively. The conduit E, one end of which opens intothe header D, extends. the full length of the drier or kiln and is provided at intervals in its length with dampers E, which are opened and closed by means of the rods E which extend through one side of the drier or kiln. A fire-box E is arranged on the conduit Eat the end of the drier. The carrier in the drier or kiln is composed of cables H,'having attached thereto at regular intervalsthe transverse strips K, which are adapted to hold the pallets .L. The cables H are operated by the pulleys H and are sustained at intervals by the rollers H The pulleys H are rigidly attached to the arbor J, to "one end of which is attached a gearwheel 3*.

The drier or kiln N is provided at intervals in its length with ventilators N, which may be opened and closed at will, also with a ventilator or escape-chimney N M is the brickmachine and T the dump-table and'are placed upon the drawings to indicate their approximate position in relation to the drier.

The hot gases and smoke from the fire under the boiler A are obliged to pass from the smoke-box A into the chamber A and circulate about the the tubes A therein before it can escape through the fine or chimney A The exhaust-steam, which is conducted from the engine'through thepipe B into the chamber A together with the hot gases, heat the tubes A therein, and when it is necessary live steam from the boiler maybe turned into the chamber A through the pipe B. The steam in the chamber A prevents the soot from accumulating and forming a crust about the tubes A and also provides a draft through the chamber. The damper A in the flue A is also adapted to regulate the draft.

The blower F can be propelled byany usual means and is arranged at the outer end of the pipe 0 to force the fresh air into the chamber D through the tubes A where it is heated, into the header D, and thence into the conduit E, through which it passes into the drier. This object is accomplished by opening the upper valve 0 and closing the lower valve 0 in the pipe 0. Should it become necessary to have more heat in the conduit E, this can be proyided by turning the live steam from the boiler through the pipe B into the chamber D. This might be required at night or such other times as the engine would not be running.

The heat in the different parts of the drier can be regulated by the dampers E and can .be arranged so that the heat in the center be gradually carried into the higher temperature in the center and thence through a gradually-decreasing temperature to the opposite end, where they are removed.

A collar or fire-box E of inflammable material, is arranged about the conduit E outside of the drier. Should the heat in the conduit E become so great as'to endanger the drier, this fire-box will ignite and being in a position to be plainly seen by those about th plant will attract their attention.

Cold air can be forced into the conduit E by means of the blower F by closing the upper valve 0 and opening the lower valve 0 in the pipe 0.

The carrier extends the full length of the drier and is arranged above the conduit E. It is composed of cables I*I,-to which is attached the transverse strips K. These strips are in the form of an inverted T and are arranged at regular intervals on the cables I-I, so as to engage and hold the ends of the pallets L, upon which the bricks are dumped as they come from the mold. These pallets are to be placed side by side on the cross-pieces and may be piled any number of tiers high.

The cables H, with the cross-pieces K thereon, are operated by the pulleys H, which are rigidly attached to the arbor J. A gearwheel J 2 is arranged at one end of the arbor J and may be of such character as is best adapted to be operated by the machinery in the plant. The cables H are adapted to move on and be supported by the rollers H In operation the carrier is moved forward until one of the cross-pieces K is above and a little beyond the arbor J, where itis allowed to remain until the first row of loaded pallets is placed thereon, when the power is applied to the gear-wheel J and the carrier moved forward until the next cross-piece K assumes the position last described. Another row of loaded pallets can be placed thereon. This can be continued until the carrier is full, when the dried bricks can be removed from the carrier at the opposite end and placed in the kiln-shed while the fresh bricks are being loaded. By this means it will be seen that the green bricks are gradually advanced into and through the drier.

The drier and carrier may be made of any desired dimensions to correspond with the capacity of the plant.

In the accompanying drawings four cables are shown; but I do not care to limit myself to that number, as more or less may be used to conform to existing conditions.

Ventilators N, which may be opened and closed at will, are arranged along the side of the drier near the roof and, together with the escape-chimney N provide means to further regulate the temperature in the drier.

By the foregoing arrangement and combination of parts a new and simple means is provided for gradually drying bricks, tiles, 850., in a pure heated air without any additional cost of operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isv 1. A drying-kiln having at one end a chamber in which the products of combustion together with the exhaust-steam are utilized to heat a bunch of tubes therein, a series of tubes in said chamber, a header into which the heated air from the tubes is discharged, a conduit to transmit the heated air in the header into the kiln, and means to force the air through the tubes into the header and conduit, substantially as described.

2. A drying-kiln having at one end a heat ing-chamber through which the hot gases and smoke are arranged to pass, a smoke-box opening into said chamber, a flue through which the smoke escapes from said chamber, a damper arranged in said flue, a series of tubes arranged in said chamber, a header into which the heated air from the tubes is discharged, conduits to convey the heated air from said header into the kiln, a series of dampers in said conduits, a system of pipes and valves, whereby either live or exhaust steam or both may be utilized in connection with the products of combustion in the heating-chamber, a blower adapted to force the air through the tubes in the heating-chamber into the header and conduits, a blower-pipe IIO connected with saidcond uits, a system of valves in said blower-pipe whereby cold air may be forced into the conduit, and a firebox arranged on the outer end of said con-- ber in which the products of combustion are utilized in conjunction with the exhauststeam in heating a bunch of tubes therein, a

series of tubes arranged in said chamber, a header'into which the heated air from the tubes is discharged, a means to transmit the heated air from the'header into the kiln, and means to force the air through the said tubes into theheader, an endless carrier arranged in said kiln above the heater, and means to propel said carrier, substantially as described.

4. A drying-kiln having at one end a heating-chamber through which the hot gases and smoke are arranged to pass, a smoke-box opening into said chamber, a flue through which the smoke escapes from said chamber, a damper arranged in said flue, a series of tubes arranged in said chamber, a header into which the heated air from the tubes is dis: charged, a conduit adapted to convey the heated air from the header into the kiln, which conduit is provided with a series of dampers within said kiln, a system of pipes and valves whereby either live or exhaust steam or both maybe utilized in conjunction with the products of combustion in the heating-chamber, a blower adapted to force the air through the tubes in said chamber into the header and conduit, a blower-pipe having a system of valves therein whereby cold air may be forced into the conduit, a fire-box arranged on the conduit outside of the kiln, an endless carrier composed of cables to which transverse platforms are attached at intervals, an arbor having pulleys rigidly attached thereon and adapted to propel said cables, means to revolve said arbor, rollers adapted to support said cables, and ventilators at intervals in the length of said kiln, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix. my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HIRAM H. WALSH. Witnesses:

JAMES H. FINLEY, JOHN J. GRANT. 

